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clark_ricky
Reviews
Following (1998)
A Look Back
Christopher Nolan's reputation continues to grow, especially when we consider the success of his revamped attempt at DC's Batman. And if the calibre of your cast reflects your importance in cinema, then Nolan's experience with the likes of Pacino, Johansson and the continued use of Bale, stamps credit on his achievements. However, looking back at Nolan's budgeted and auteurish feature debut, Following, it might be difficult to understand how such an English filmmaker is enabled to make such huge leaps into the Hollywood mainstream.
On first impressions - Nolan's deconstruction of the linear narrative is admirable and has since become a recurring technique for the director, most notably in his critically praised follow-up Memento. We are constantly on the edge of our seats with Following, with the film revealing future scenes that seem unclear until Nolan is ready to clarify them. Despite always knowing more than the protagonist, the audience are presented with a puzzle to solve, though naturally we reach the conclusion at the same time as our man (Jeremy Theobald) - the end. On a stripped down viewing, Following rarely veers from classical conventions - it begins with an introductory voice-over, a man enters a life of crime, the thriller-style music peaks where it ought to, there is a love interest/femme fatale (Lucy Russell), the same man receives his punishment, and the film is even shot in a contrasting black and white (no doubt a financial conclusion). Nolan also makes a predictable nod to Hitchcock with a string of voyeuristic shots as well as a perfect-crime plot with the character Cobb (Alex Haw).
In conclusion, it's a clever way of presenting a somewhat dull plot and, given Nolan's growing success, a proved way of grabbing the attention of the mass audience. The film also provides an interesting social commentary with Cobb. His ability to read the robotic of the average person shows a disturbing side to comfortable living.
Raising Cain (1992)
A Fun Film
Despite the hordes of comments made about this film explaining where it 'went wrong', it appears a great deal of these reviews are from viewers failing to recognise the directors tongue in cheek intentions.
The film is a satirical thriller/horror that abides by the conventions of the genre, though twists them. Instead of concentrating on what the audience doesn't know and building up to a yawn-full climax, a cliché that Scream parodies, the film takes on the perspective of the psycho, presenting the audience with more information than other characters.
The obvious influences, or should I say homages, to Hitchcock show De Palma's respect for his predecessors, though it appears De Palma is also presenting us with a parody of Psycho, which is a reason in itself to watch this movie.
Along with other directors (Including Scorsese, Coppola, Spielberg and Lucas), Brian De Palma has been labelled as a 'movie brat', and I think this film is a prime example of a film made by this generation of filmmakers.